Blackwell on Health: Forget Spanish fly, try ginseng for libido boost

Don Juans and Donna Juanitas seeking a natural way to get in the mood might want to forget the chocolate, scented candles and Merlot, and head instead to their nearest Chinese herbalist, or at least the supermarket spice aisle.

An extensive review of research on non-pharmaceutical aphrodisiacs has concluded that the most effective substances for boosting the libido are panax ginseng, saffron and yohimbine – a natural chemical from yohimbe trees in West Africa. The University of Guleph study, which analysed hundreds of previous studies on supposed natural aphrodisiacs, reached both surprising and predictable conclusions. Chocolate does little for arousal, the paper in the journal Food Research International concludes, alcohol boosts the libido but undermines sexual performance, and Spanish fly actually has a deflating effect and can be toxic.

The study has a practical health significance, the authors say, since the alternatives are drugs like Viagra and Cialis, which reverse impotence but don’t actually affect the libido, and can have unpleasant or even dangerous side effects. Said Massimo Marcone, a professor at the university’s department of food science:

Aphrodisiacs have been used for thousands of years all around the world, but the science behind the claims has never been well understood or clearly reported. Ours is the most thorough scientific review to date. Nothing has been done on this level of detail before now.

He warns, however, that the evidence of safety and efficacy is not strong enough to recommend extensive use of any of the substances for aphrodisiacs.